Reagan Calls on Soviets to Describe Their ‘Star Wars’

President Reagan demanded Saturday that the Soviet Union disclose details of its own “Star Wars” defense plans, saying the United States believes Moscow’s weapons research is so intensive “that they may be able to put an advanced technology defensive system in space by the end of the century.”

The demand, which Reagan issued in his weekly radio address, appeared to be another salvo in the public relations battle raging between the President and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev in advance of their summit meeting next month in Geneva.

Gorbachev has made opposition to Reagan’s “Star Wars” space program, also known as the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, the touchstone of Soviet summit preparations. His claim that SDI is a prime threat to peace is believed by some to have growing appeal in Europe.

‘Dangerous Deception’

Speaking from his Camp David, Md., retreat, Reagan accused the Soviets of promoting a “dangerous deception” by claiming that they have no space weapons plans and that the U.S. plan would wreck the nuclear balance.

“All they say about SDI is that the United States shouldn’t have it,” Reagan said. “But as many as 10,000 Soviet scientists and engineers are believed to be working on research related to SDI.

“When you look at what the Soviets are doing in both strategic offense and defense, you realize that our SDI research program is crucial to maintain the military balance and protect the liberty and freedom of the West.”

Reagan’s remarks drew on a 27-page booklet, issued last week by the departments of Defense and State, which estimated that Soviet laser weapons research involves 10,000 scientists and costs $1 billion annually. Annual Soviet spending on all space weapons exceeds the $3.7 billion that the Administration budgeted for fiscal 1986, the booklet stated.

Let Them Have One, Too

Reagan emphasized that he does not oppose Soviet development of a space defense against nuclear missiles “so long as the United States can shoot down any incoming missiles too.”

In a often-stated pitch for U.S. space defense plans, the President said a defensive balance between the superpowers is “morally preferable” to the present balance of terror and could lead one day to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

“The sooner the Soviet Union comes clean about its own strategic defense programs and joins with us in a real dialogue to reduce the risk of nuclear war, the better it will be for the world,” he said.